| Bahrain
General Information |
| |
| Introduction > |
| Bahrain's
small size and central location among
Persian Gulf countries require it to
play a delicate balancing act in foreign
affairs among its larger neighbors.
Facing declining oil reserves, Bahrain
has turned to petroleum processing and
refining and has transformed itself
into an international banking center.
The new amir, installed in 1999, has
pushed economic and political reforms
and has worked to improve relations
with the Shi'a community. In February
2001, Bahraini voters approved a referendum
on the National Action Charter - the
centerpiece of the amir's political
liberalization program. In February
2002, Amir HAMAD bin Isa Al Khalifa
proclaimed himself king. In October
2002, Bahrainis elected members of the
lower house of Bahrain's reconstituted
bicameral legislature, the National
Assembly. |
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| Geography >>> |
| Location: |
Middle
East, archipelago in the Persian
Gulf, east of Saudi Arabia |
| Area: |
total:
665 sq km, land: 665 sq km, water:
0 sq km |
| Climate: |
arid;
mild, pleasant winters; very hot,
humid summers |
Natural
resources:
|
oil,
associated and nonassociated natural
gas, fish, pearls |
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| People >>> |
| Population: |
677,886
includes 235,108 non-nationals (July
2004 est.) |
| Age
structure: |
0-14
years: 28.4% (male 97,179; female
95,043)
15-64 years: 68.4% (male 271,015;
female 192,342)
65 years and over: 3.3% (male 11,426;
female 10,881) (2004 est.) |
| Population
growth rate: |
1.56%
(2004 est.) |
Birth
rate:
|
18.54
births/1,000 population (2004 est.)
|
| Death
rate: |
4.03
deaths/1,000 population (2004 est.)
|
| Net
migration rate: |
1.05
migrant(s)/1,000 population (2004
est.) |
| Sex
ratio: |
at
birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.41 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 1.05 male(s)/female
total population: 1.27 male(s)/female
(2004 est.) |
| Ethnic
groups: |
Bahraini 63%, Asian 19%, other Arab
10%, Iranian 8% |
| Religions: |
Shi'a
Muslim 70%, Sunni Muslim 30% |
| Languages: |
Arabic,
English, Farsi, Urdu |
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